Lord Prior opens Alstom Widnes refurbishment centre

ALSTOM’S new technology centre for train modernisation in Widnes was opened on June 29 by Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Alstom claims it is the largest rolling stock modernisation centre in the UK, with more than 13,000 sq m of space.

‘Pendolino’ No. 390104 ahead of its repainting. ALSTOM

Its first task will be a £25 million contract from Angel Trains to repaint all 56 Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ trains. Alstom aims to recruit staff from the local area, who will be trained on virtual reality painting simulators.

Each ‘Pendolino’ will take two weeks to paint, after all external paint is stripped to allow minor damage to be repaired.

Alstom says that the facility could also be used to assemble trains for the UK market if it is successful in winning orders over the coming years.

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